One of my all time favorite dishes that I make about once a week. It’s perfect for a large get together, a St. Patrick’s Day celebration or if you just want plenty of leftovers. And, while channeling my inner Melissa Hartwig, at breakfast, I’ll #putaneggonit.

Cabbage Hash

Serves 4-6 (or lots of leftovers)

Prep time 10-15 minutes

Cook time 30 minutes

Use Whole30 compliant ingredients

Ingredients

2 tbsp ghee

2 onions chopped

10 chicken apple sausages sliced

1 10 oz can diced tomatoes with green chiles

*Due not drain, I use no salt added*

Optional Ingredients

1 large, or 2 medium/small sweet potatoes diced

1 large, or 2 medium/small white/red potatoes diced

Directions

Heat the ghee in large pain on medium/high heat

Brown onion and sausage together

Remove from pan at desired caramelization

Add more cooking fat if needed and add chopped cabbage to pan and sauté for 10 minutes until it just starts to wilt

Depending on quantity that you are making you may need to add cabbage in rounds instead of crowding the pan with uncooked cabbage all at once)

Add Rotel or canned tomatoes to pan with cabbage and bring to a simmer

Return onion and sausage mixture to pan until liquid is absorbed (10-15 mins)

After reading The Whole30 literature I walked away with a clear understanding that you should set yourself up for success…meaning, don’t have a major holiday, birthday, celebration occur on day 15. Right smack dab in the middle of your 30 day challenge. In the first two weeks of my Whole30 journey I had a couple of spur of the moment events that came up… events with alcohol, fried bits of deliciousness and of course, desserts….lots and lots of desserts.

To me, at the time, the most difficult part about the party was that I felt awkward. Everyone standing around drinking and snacking on all of the finger foods. No veggie tray, just me and a solo cup of water and a growling tummy.

I’ve learned a lot of lessons since then & here are just a few:1) If possible, plan ahead.

Offer to bring a veggie tray with homemade whole30 ranch (pg 316 of The Whole30 Book) to the gathering so you’re sure to have something to snack on.

& if that’s not an option…

2) Eat before you go.If you don’t have time for a full blown meal, grab a Larabar. Larabars are all natural, super yummy bars with very few ingredients. They come in handy {for me} post gym. After I exercise I get pretty hungry so it’s the best guilt free option that satisfies me until dinner.

La Croix water is extra special when you’re sick of plain water. I drink a ton of water {& love it} but even I want to switch it up every now and then. Well, The Whole 30 has lots of “fancied up” (Click Here For Recipes ) drink options using the La Croix flavored waters that you can make in a pitcher, which is perfect for any dinner party or gathering!

4) Host the party yourself

It may sound stressful and unappealing, and I don’t recommend throwing a dinner party during your first W30, unless of course you’re just a rockstar and can handle it, BUT I did throw a get together during my W60 after I had a few tricks up my sleeve. – familiarize yourself with W30 compliant recipes. I highly recommend you by the book, link is listed under #1, and definitely follow Whole30 and Whole30 Recipes on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram. – At the time of the party, I had W30 ranch as a stable ingredient in my fridge. My hubby still eats regular ranch so offering both was no problem. – I bought regular tortilla chips for my guests who did not prefer sweet potatoes, deviled eggs (original and avocado, both W30 approved), cucumbers with W30 ranch and regular ranch, 2 salsas, guacamole and fruit.

– Deviled Eggs

Regular and Avocado (Whole30 Approved) Deviled Eggs

Like the ranch dressing, I always keep W30 Mayo on hand. See My Mayo Tutorial HereIt’s possible to make these according to the recipe that you usually use, just substitute regular mayo with W30 Mayo. For the regular deviled eggs I added mustard as well (which is W30 approved as long as you check your labels and same with the pickles/relish). I always add salt, pepper and paprika, and there ya have it. Easy peasy. For the Avocado deviled eggs I cut the amount of mayo in half and add in the avocado. It’s all up to you on how avocado-y you want it to taste. I add a whole Avocado for 4 hardboiled eggs (8 halves)… because I am obsessed with them.

They were a huge success and loved by all. – Sweet Potato Chips

I used smaller, thinner potatoes with these so they got a bit burned. I do recommend using a bigger potato but with thin slices to make it more chip-like. These were pretty small (but delicious nonetheless). ﻿

Set Oven to 450 degrees

Using a mandolin slice sweet potatoes until desired thickness.

Coat with Coconut (or desired cooking fat of your choice)

Place coated sweet potatoes evenly on lined baking sheet

I always add course sea salt and pepper to them but occasionally to switch it up, I’ll sprinkle, cayenne, garlic powder, even finely chopped rosemary and thyme to the chips as they bake.

Immediately after you place the chips in the oven lower the temp to 300-325 degrees. As the temperature lowers it allows the chips to start crisping.

Bake for 45 minutes to 60 minutes. (I rotate the pan every 20 minutes or so to make sure they are cooking evenly)

Let them cool completely (they will crisp as they cool) before serving.

I served the sweet potato chips with Pace Organic Salsa (W30, which I bought at Sam’s) and another Salsa brought by a guest which was not W30 approved (mainly because of sugar and corn).

And of course, homemade Guac.

So, all in all, hosting a party or going to a party is not a Whole30 death sentence. But, will power and preparation go hand and hand. After time, I learned what situations to avoid and which ones to plan ahead for. I realize I can’t avoid social gatherings forever which is why Whole30 is so fabulous. It’s a realistic lifestyle change if you just give it a chance!I am several days post Whole60 and have reintroduced very little, not because I don’t feel deserving of it, but honestly, I haven’t wanted it badly enough to bother trying it. Reintro is however super important and I am still just taking it a day at a time. Keep the questions coming! (email, instagram, facebook or below) I am happy to answer and help any and all of you that I can!Until next time, Court

Well, I’m no food network star (despite how much of that channel I watch on a regular basis) but several of you have asked for a whole30 basic mayo tutorial, so here you go!

If you have trouble loading this video on blogger, please check it out on my Facebook page!

Huge thanks to my friend Kelsey who was ready and willing to help me make this video and for taking these pictures! My whole30 journey has been incredible so far and I hope that this blog and {helpful tips} can serve as inspiration for YOU to make better choices of the food that put in your body. Food that makes you feel good 🙂

It’s hard for me to believe that two weeks have come & gone! I’d be lying if I said it’s been a piece of cake… (see what I did there?;) )

Some days are definitely harder than others but the fact I get to go to sleep at night (without a sleep aid for the first time in a long time) and be proud of what I’ve put in my body that day is one of the best feelings ever.

This is like my whole30 bible. Not a day goes by I don’t read something out of it! Plus the recipes are delish.

Several of you have asked for my frittata recipe so here goes:

(*I have no technical measurements and I switch up the veggies each time but this one is my fave.)

– Preheat oven to 375 degrees

-I coat a 9×13 glass baking dish with coconut oil and then

-Whisk 12-15 eggs and set aside

– Heat avacado oil or coconut oil in a pan

– I chop up 4 pieces of uncured bacon and sauté with chopped mushrooms in pan (careful not to over cook bacon because it will get tough in the oven)

– I dice one onion, one green bell pepper, and one yellow or red pepper and add to the pan

– I slice a handful of cherry tomatoes and toss them in

– Then add in 2 big handfuls of kale/spinach (or both) until it starts to wilt.

-Salt & pepper to taste

– Pour veggie mix into the baking dish

– Pour eggs on top and push all the veggies down with a spoon so that the eggs cover all of them

– Bake for 30 minutes!

I cut it into separate pieces and store in plastic Tupperware for an easy to grab breakfast in the am. (I get up at 4:15 everyday so the easier the better for me!)

I love getting to be creative and explore different food options. Yes I’m proud of making it through another day without putting unhealthy, calorie dense foods into my body but I am proud of my new culinary achievements! Everything from the homemade mayo (tutorial coming this weekend) to tonight’s chicken curry dish that the hubs loves!

Well, today was my first work day on whole30. I was worried how it would go being that I wake up at 4:15 am which means I eat breakfast super early… Then lunch earlier in the day which means by dinner time… I’m hangry. Yes, hangry! anger fueled by hunger: a cranky state resulting from lack of food, especially sweet things- thanks urban dictionary.

Much to my surprise, I didn’t feel nearly as tired when I woke up this morning. “They” said this would happen that my energy levels would get better but I wasn’t sure I believed it… Especially because it’s only been 6 days! But I was able to eliminate one of my snooze sessions, kick my tail into gear and make a delicious breakfast. Sautéed kale/spinach and cherry tomatoes with 2 poached eggs and a banana! (& of course black coffee).

Thankfully I had a busy morning so I wasn’t tempted to snack. I packed a lunch of a green leafy salad full of cucumbers, carrots & tomatoes with homemade Italian vinaigrette! I had a (closed fist) full of cashews and an apple. It was light but filling.

I finished my shopping after work and bought the rest of the ingredients I needed to make tonight’s dinner, a whole30 take on chili, which was more like veggie beef soup since no beans allowed! {I stole this recipe from Hannah this past weekend}.

and homemade mayonnaise. Yes, homemade mayonnaise! I don’t even like mayo but this was delish.

I was so proud of myself! So with my whole30 friendly, all natural mayo I made chicken salad (no picture yet) with grapes, celery and apple. I can’t wait to have chicken salad for lunch tomorrow!

There’s something about the effort that goes into not only learning what the food does to the body but a sense of pride with shopping and creating all natural, nutrient, enriched food to fuel the mind, body and soul.

Clean eating is more than just better food, it’s achieving a better quality of life and a sense of well being and purpose. Self worth that feels far better than binge eating a box of Krispy Cream donuts 💛

So, my intention was to kick off the whole30 this weekend in Virginia. My sister in law and my brother in law started a couple of weeks ago, so I was going to let them be my inspiration.

Or maybe it was an excuse to wait even longer and keep putting off. With that being said, I am starting today. I am not as prepared which, from what I’ve read so far in It Starts With Food… is not the best idea, but I am determined to make this work.

For breakfast I had 2 poached eggs. Not quite the breakfast of champions I desired but hey, it was filling and fueled my early morning with protein. And of course coffee… black coffee. I’m thankful for nearly 4 years at Starbucks for teaching me to appreciate the quality and natural taste of black, coffee because it will be my morning friend for the next 30 days!

Lunch was less exciting than breakfast, only because, like I said… unprepared.
I had a dressing-less salad. Spinach, cucumbers and carrots and an apple. Definitely held me over until my absolutely delicious dinner.

I was either just really hungry… or they were THAT good. It may be a smidge of both but hey, I’ve (almost) made it through my first day! And will without a doubt be making these again!

The plan for the rest of the night… finish packing for my trip, drink a nice hot cup of {herbal} tea before bed and hangout with the hubs. Sounds like a good day to me <3

P.S. Thank you. I never thought in a million years that anyone would read my post from yesterday let alone reach out with so many encouraging words. I am beyond excited to make this journey through the whole30 and am even more hopeful now because of each of you.